Giving some love to my draft folder, this review has been steeping since November 2023, marinating like a good thịt kho. Was it worth the emotional labor? Debatable. But here it is, finally served. I came in solo on 11/25/23, right as they opened at 4pm. The place was practically empty, just me for a good while. About an hour later, a couple came in to dine, and someone else stopped by for a to-go order. So no, this wasn't peak hour chaos. I was genuinely excited. A spot bold enough to name itself Fish Sauce? That's not trying to water itself down to appeal to the "fusion" crowd? Yes, please. The unapologetic Viet-ness of it won me over from afar. But perhaps, in some ironic twist of cultural karma, that came back to bite me. I scanned the menu and felt seen: bánh tét chiên, thịt kho, bắp nướng, bánh chuối nếp nướng. Childhood on a plate. Nostalgia. Home. I ordered all of them, full-hearted and belly-ready. You order at the counter, seat yourself, and wait. Here's where it turned. As each dish came out, I heard the kitchen staff talking, openly, in Vietnamese, about me. They were surprised that I was "chubby but not as fat as they expected" given the amount of food I ordered. Yep. That happened. In Vietnamese. Loud enough. I paused mid-bite. Do I respond? Joke back? Let them know I understood every word? I considered it. But honestly? It wasn't worth the breath or the calories. I had already decided I wouldn't be back. The food was solid, comforting and nostalgic, but not mind-blowing. A 3/5. Service? I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but if you value being treated with basic decency, maybe look elsewhere. In the end, Fish Sauce was a philosophical experience more than a culinary one: Can a place celebrate cultural authenticity while treating someone from that very culture with casual disrespect? Apparently, and absolutely, YES!!!!! And now this review can finally escape my draft folder. read more

Fish Sauce - View from the back/order counter - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Sometimes it is hard to properly judge Pho when you get it to go as I did, but everything tasted pretty good. Not necessarily distinguishable from other pho places in the area but all in all it was fine. read more

Fish Sauce - Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It's tasty and delicious like mommy cuisines as well we're fed with Vietnamese cuisines We visited Portland and stopped by here because looking for Asian restaurant even though the menu was not too much choices but it's enough for us The service was nice and friendly the restaurant looked modern decorations with special name "Fish Sauce" Bottle painted on the wall The owner was very friendly and polite with his Mom was a chef inside read more

This tiny restaurant puts out big flavor! Their space is cute, with outdoor picnic benches and a large communal table inside. The friendly staff get food out fast so if you are ready to eat, like now, this is the spot. We tried the Bun, Pho, fried rice, salad rolls with pork and pickled vegetables. The portions are large, very fresh and seasoned perfectly. The Bun comes with so many toppings, as does the pho, and the bun and salad rolls had plenty of sauce. I will be heading back soon! read more

Been here twice now and it's been great both times. The service is great and the food as well. I appreciate the decor as well and the outdoor seating option as well. I love their veggie pho but everything looks great. My ex boyfriend recommended this place and it was truly one of the only good takes he's had. read more

The grilled chicken noodle bowl was so Flippin good. Love that there was some crispy rolls on top as well the flavor of the grill, YUM.

Absolutely fantastic cuisine! Walked in on a Friday evening, not too busy appeared to be preparing MANY take out orders. Smaller and tidy on the inside, but plenty of seating. There is outside seating as well. Everything we had was outstanding!! Really friendly, chef even came out to chat. Food portions were great, with vegetarian options. I can't wait to go back, give it a try you'll be glad you did!!!! read more

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Excellent!! We stumbled upon this place because we had tickets to watch a movie at the McMenamins Mission Theater. We were about an hour early and were looking for a bite to eat. This was just next-door to the theater so we decided to give it a try. I have never had Vietnamese food before but I was feeling adventurous. The food was incredible. I ordered the Kalbi short ribs. They were so flavorful. I also ordered some crispy rolls. They had ground pork and shrimp in them. Absolutely fantastic!! The restaurant is really cute and clean. Our server was very friendly and attentive. I can't wait to come back ! read more

Fish Sauce - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Came for a date night on a fine Thursday afternoon @4PM. We were the only ones there so the food came out within 10 minutes of ordering. The set up is order at the counter then choose your table. Justin Timbalake was bringing sexy back so the vibes were absoloutely popping, chest popping, specifically(.) The goi coun was fresh and that's all I can really ask for BUT wait there is more!!!! The glazed fish sauce wings were good. I honestly enjoyed them more as left overs because the breading softened up a bit. The breading was a lil too crunchy once it was freshly cooked and I think that if the wings were larger, the crunchiness would on point, but not for the mini wings. My patna got the pho ga and she loved it because the chicken was tender and cut into good bite sized pieces. This place also gains more browny points for her bc they use beef broth for the chicken pho. The temple of the sun cocktails were sturdy so s/o to our waitress, she was mad polite. Could be homies type vibe. Will be back read more

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Food is crazyyyyyy good. You can't go wrong. We ordered to go, but I will be going back forrrr sure!!!

Hiya, how do they survive at this price point? You can easily find Vietnamese twice as good for half the price, just not in this neighborhood. Pass. read more

Cheap happy hour prices, quieter part of downtown, delicious Korean short ribs over rice

Great service and food was delicious. The service is top notch as they made recommendations of the most popular dishes and constantly check on us during our time there. The ambiance has a nice rustic feel to it with cool mason jar read more

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The food is absolutely spectacular, the portions are giant and will satiate every appetite. The service is awesome and refreshingly real and kind. One of my most favorite things about this place is the location and ambiance. I can spend hours there and not feel like I'm crowded or like music is screaming over my thoughts. read more

Happy hour 3-5 PM, $2 off any item on the menu and pints $4! Come and get it! My wife and I enjoyed the salad rolls with tofu wrapped in rice paper with vermicelli noodles, lettuce, mint, and bean sprouts. Served with house made peanut sauce. Also, we liked the grilled pork rolls wrapped in rice paper with lettuce, cucumbers, mint, and pickled carrots. Served with house made & fermented fish sauce. Open and covered patio on a quiet street in the Alphabet District. Good eats, good service! read more

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Authentic vietnamese food, great service, and personable vietnamese owners. Some of the other vietnamese/asian restaurants nearby have the food catered more to an americanized palate (to each their own) but since my family is vietnamese they prefer the more authentic flavor and the dishes here tasted like what my mom would make. The ambiance is more modern/hip but the food is still traditional. The appetizers are worth getting. Enjoyed the grilled and seasoned mussels, and particularly recommended the Heo Cuon (pork spring rolls) which had a nicely generous filling of pork. The fish sauce wings are a good main dish to share as well which had a nice sweet and savory crispy glaze. I didn't try the pho so I can't comment on that. They have a good happy hour deal as well. Will be back before we leave Portland and head home. read more

Easy parking along the street and heated lamps for the outdoor (indoor) seating. Four of us (2 hefty men and 2 dainty girls) got the chicken wings and mango sticky rice! The wings were absolutely flavorful and crispy! A must have no question about it. The mango sticky rice was sweet and we left very satisfied but not guilty. If you are looking to come here to try the wings and grab more food somewhere else, this was the perfect amount for us. read more

Fish Sauce - Sticky Rice Mango and Fish Sauce Chicken Wings - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We were in the NW Portland area and the wife said "hey there's a restaurant called Fish Sauce". Being from Vietnam I was intrigued so we ordered two lemongrass Bahn Mi sandwiches and BANG!! Simply amazing then finished off dinner with Mango Coconut Sticky Rice. This is one of my favorite desserts and this one didn't disappoint. If you eat here don't forget the Mango Sticky Rice. Thank you "Fish Sauce" read more

Fish Sauce - Mango Coconut Sticky Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Delicious dinner of Bahn Mi and fries. The sauces were excellent! Reasonable pricing and solid portions. A few long communal tables inside and lots of patio seating also, which was covered. Gorgeous plants and murals. Good selection of drinks both alcohol and non alcohol. The front door was not working correctly when we were there, so folks kept getting locked out... other patrons would get up to let people in due to the jammed door. There were a lot of delivery drivers coming in and out of an alternate door toward the counter. read more

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So I live near by and I haven't tried this place in years. I decided to try it last night and it was absolutely DELICIOUS. We got a vermicelli bowl and spring rolls and it's probably the best vermicelli bowl in the area. The flavors were really good and the shrimp and lemongrass pork were very seasoned perfectly... the pork was very tender which is hard to find in a dish like this. My only critique would be the peanut butter sauce needs a tad more peanut butter flavor. It was a take out order, but they were really great with service and the order was ready in 15 minutes. There weren't a ton of people inside but I hope that changes!! Definitely going back!! 5 stars across the board and would HIGHLY recommend if you are looking for good Vietnamese comfort food! Everyone, support this place! The food is very veryyyy good. read more

$5 Thai iced tea is a premade mix of Kirkland brand Thai iced tea. (They just poured it out of the jug) There's only one type of pho broth, which was beef broth, even if you order vegetarian toppings. The broth tasted premade/store bought as well. I'm not sure how this places pho is ranked so highly. read more

Today we ordered two items we have not had! The Banh canh with shrimp and pork was ! The best Vietnamese Soup I have to say for Portland!!! The last time I ate this soup was back home made by my friend! The noodles made fresh and taste oh sooo good. Better believe that I slurped all the broth! I shared a small bowl with my husband and we were suppose to share this... oops... I ate all of it and he looked over at me with a disappointed face like.. you ate it all . The Kalbi Banh Mi according to my husband was one of the best Banh Mi he had yet to date in Portland! And their house chili spicy sauce.... sooo goood!!! That lemongrass addition is my favorite. If ya like to spice up your dish... ask for this on the side! Definitely had my cheeks sweating and feeling hot! Was so soo good though! These two item has made it to our top order! I have always love the decor of this spot. Great for couple dates or small groups. Try it out and let me know what ya think. read more

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Stumbled upon this gem in Portland one Friday night while waiting for our movie at McMenamins Mission Theater across the road. We were lucky to catch their late night happy hour for some bites before our movie. We opted to sit outside on the wooden picnic tables as it was a nice clear night. We ordered the following: crispy spring rolls, kalbi and chicken lettuce wraps. All three were delicious and well made -- the meats were flavorful and tender plus the corresponding pickled sides were great accompaniments to each dish. Service was friendly and prompt and price points were pretty good for happy hour. So glad we tried this out and we actually recommended our friends who live in Portland to try this place out too. read more

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Don't bother. Rude service. Average food. Not worth a second thought or a second trip

Great casual place for pho with kids. Was visiting Portland from Seattle and was looking for a place to eat on Saturday night. Most restaurants were fully booked. Thankfully fish sauce was able to accommodate our group of 7 immediately. We order the filet mignon pho, vegetarian pho, tofu fried rice, and kalbi. Everything was flavorful and came out quickly. The owner/chef greeted us after our meal to see if everything was good and that was a nice touch! read more

We've walked by this restaurant several times, and finally went inside and ordered on a Friday. The pork/shrimp rolls were heavier than I expected but very tasty. Luckily, the husband and I split a chicken vermicelli noodle bowl. It was huge. As we kept digging to the bottom, we kept finding big juicy pieces of chicken! Well done Fish Sauce! The service was efficient but non engaging. That's ok... because everyone needed was in our bowls! We at outside in the picnic table area. It needed a little love but I rate places mostly based on their food. And the food we enjoyed was good. So looking forward to our next visit! read more

There's not a lot of restaurants that makes everything from scratch because it's time consuming and sometimes more costly. Aesthetic, delicious, and wonderful service. Always worth the drive to stop by and visit Fish Sauce for some great Vietnamese food. Every item at Fish Sauce is freshly made from scratch! Make sure to put this on your places to try if you haven't visited it already! read more

Best food I've had in months. This sweet place needs our community's support. Because of the houseless situation in the neighborhood, they have lost a lot of business. This was the first time that I tried them, and I was blown away. I had the honor of connecting with Chef Lauren, whose charm and thoughtfulness for the humans that are sadly negatively impacting her business, brought tears to my eyes. She explained that she tries to be of service to the houseless community as much as possible. A beautiful heart, that shows through, in the brilliant way flavors dance in your mouth. They do sit-in or take out. Do miss out on delectable food and being able to support a small business in our neighborhood. read more

I love this hidden gem and am quite glad to see they are still going strong. Their food is a delightful mix of classic Vietnamese dishes with a contemporary flair. My favorite dish are the fish sauce chicken wings. This is honestly the sort of dish you will find yourself craving if it's been too long since your last visit. Another go to is Botta's favorite which offers a nice variety of food in one hearty plate. Also the kefir lime peanuts are an excellent takeaway snack (they come in a little plastic container). They are quite spicy, but it hurts so good. Things to know: 1) They are no longer full service sit down. You order your food at the counter and wait for it to be brought out. 2) The limited indoor seating is even more limited. 3) There are several nice outdoor picnic tables with umbrellas to add to the seating. read more

This is a super cute place. We came here for happy hour on a Friday and were the first ones in the restaurant so we had very fast service. We split a few things off the happy hour menu, which is pretty nicely priced. (See photos for names)Everything was excellent. The beef in the pho was very tender. The lettuce wraps were very flavorful though the accompanying peanut sauce was slightly different - thinner and slightly vinegary. They brought a house made spicy sauce with one of the dishes and it was good. The bread on the bahn mi was fresh. The five dishes were the perfect amount for two hungry people. I'd also highly recommend their housemade ginger soda if you're a fan of ginger ales. Their bar also had a great a great selection of drinks. A great spot for slightly fancier Vietnamese food to rival Luc Lac. read more

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One of the best restaurants in Portland. I can't get enough. I've been several times. Definitely get the chicken wings. But you can't go wrong. We usually get all of the small plates and share with friends. Family atmosphere. Love this spot. read more

Yummy food, but not amazing. The wings would be great if they used real chicken. Great crunch & flavor on the outside, but no juicy tender chicken inside. Instead it is rubbery and has a compressed quality. Like...reconstructed chicken. Ew. However: Best peanut sauce in portland! read more

Amazing food. Would recommend to everyone. And the service was really friendly. I'll definitely go back again.

Such a cute place! The food was amazing. We had salad rolls, bahn mi sandwiches and mango sticky rice. The service was great, they were all so friendly. read more

Was in visiting Portland and walked by this spot a few times. I finally tried it on my last night and I'm so glad I did. One of the best Phos I've had. I really wish this was in LA. We just tried the Goi Cuon and Pho -- both were delicious! Also got the house roasted peanuts with lime leaf and chillies to go -- perfect snack with complex flavors. I really can't wait to go back to try more dishes here. read more

If you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food the kind your momma or someone's auntie cooks this is not the place for you. If you're looking for a trendy hip Vietnamese 'inspired' place to go for drinks and chat with nice decor this is perfect. I wanted to love this place but the ratio of cost and having a full stomach just did not mix well. PROS: -This place is newer and has outdoor seating with nice umbrellas, the cocktail options here are good. -They have great happy hour options! -Has a nice selection of traditional food, fusion and also bilingual menus printed in Viet as well. -Staff is extremely nice and attentive! -Grilled corn on the cob was perfectly balanced! Nice mix of scallion butter and green onions. My god it was smoky and amazing! -Spring rolls were good, they have different variations. -Bo luc lac was good CONS: -Portions are small -Service can be extremely slow (we waited 45 min for our food. They didn't serve them as they finished but waited until all items were done.) -With the menu items in mind there is one factor that is missing to bind ones tastebuds when eating here, and that is RICE! Everything here packs a wallop in flavor and when you have ordered about 5 dishes with so much flavor all you taste is SALT! I had to down 4 glasses of water. I feel rice should've been complimentary at least for the simmered pork belly w/egg. That was the saltiest of all. -Chicken wings were too salty and were a fusion of buffalo sauce wings with added fish sauce. Lackluster in comparison to its regular spicy and sweet Vietnamese chicken wings. Like where the fried garlic and Thai chilies? -$6+ for a fresh coconut. I can buy this at the grocery store for $2 this is huge NO. I get that you need to charge for labor but that's insane. -Simmered pork belly and eggs had a lot of fat in it. Skimming of the fat needs to be done, aromatics were not there. Flavor profile was just fish sauce, fish sauce and more salt. It really fell flat for me, and this was the one I looked forward to the most. Overall I can see where they were going with this but to call it Vietnamese isn't right. A lot of key aroma and condiments are missing especially if you are trying to pull from Vietnamese cooking. For those who have not had real Vietnamese food this may suffice. read more

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I must counter bad experience with a meaningful, unforgettable, perfect one. Enter Fish Sauce---- a warm, lovely late happy hour dinner experienced here. So good was the food and so surprised was I, being in NW Pdx, at the authenticity of the flavor and quality of the ingredients used I actually chatted with the owner for a good :45 after closing. It's delightfully romantic with warm lighting and great decor ( her older son designed all of the light fixtures). Crowded and difficult to navigate it may be inside, as the long communal table does take up the bulk of the dining room. Small space, with large exterior, well done patio. Too cold that evening. My food came, one after another dish, and in amazement was I. I kept eating and marveling at how perfectly cooked everything was, and how well prepped the marinades were. Though passing through on a short vacation, this was perhaps my most fave meal of that jaunt. "Aunty" shared with me her boat person story, leaving Vietnam and the harrowing risks and daunting task of creating a life in a new land. Opportunity knocked and born was her venture in the space that used to be Cupcake Jones! That, folks, is a true tale about true grit, the kind upon which American dreams are created, to be sure. And nephew, though I loath myself in forgetting your names, I wish you the best of luck in business when you return to Encino! Highly reco those gorgeous wings, and the grilled Korean ( yep) beef skewers. read more

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Hands down best Vietnamese restaurant in PDX I've been coming here for 7+ years! Literally everything on the menu is delicious!

We came on the second day of their soft opening and seems as though this place will be very promising. Their food was delicious, but they still have some kinks to work out which are forgivable and expected since it's a new restaurant. We weren't hungry, but still wanted to stop by for a little snack. We had the Vietnamese wings, steamer clams with nuoc mam (fish sauce), and the sesame balls. (Side note: "fish sauce" aka "nuoc mam" is a general term for the un-diluted/un-mixed form. The ones served in the dishes are mixed with other ingredients to make special sauces for a particular dish.) The wings were made well and the sauces that it came with went very well together. On the side was a tamarind sauce and a thicker, sweet fish sauce -- both were tasty and I kept dipping. The skin on the chicken wings were also very delicious and the meat was moist. The steamer clams is a favorite dish at home and I was very excited to see it on the menu. The is not your usual clams steamed in white wine and garlic. This is a traditional Vietnamese style steamer clams in which the clams are dipped in a special fish sauce once they have been steamed. Only down side to this dish was the clams were overcooked. Some came out looking mangled and had me wishing for better clams. However, fish sauce makes everything better and I still enjoyed the dish. Lastly, the sesame balls were amazeballs! The outside dough is mochi-like and had sesame and the inside was a mixture of coconut flakes and mung bean (?? i think it's mung bean). They were two-bite sized and perfectly fried. I've had them plain growing up, but these came with honey on the side for dipping. I was unsure of the honey, but found it to be a great compliment to the dessert! We were so excited for the sesame balls I ate it before realizing I didn't take a picture... doh! One other note: for those not familiar with the area, the restaurant is located at the site of the old St. Cupcakes and the parking can be a bit of a pain. Overall, the ambiance was nice and I really liked the decor inside. The service was also very good. VERDICT: Go try it!!! read more

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This place has been around for a Lil over 3 years now (I think). The food has always been consistent and the quality is superb. I have never had a bad experience when dining here. The people here are extremely friendly and helpful. Today, my friend and I snacked on a few items...we had the chicken wings, bo luc lac, and a special requested item that wasn't on the menu - bo tai chanh (rare beef cooked with lime juice...almost like a Vietnamese version of a beef carpaccio). The flavors and taste of the food were great. We washed the fo I don't down with a fresh drink called the New York Sour. read more

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